New York Liberty edged Chicago Sky 95-94 on Wednesday night in the Women’s National Basketball Association, surviving a one-point finish at Barclays Center as Sabrina Ionescu led the way with 29 points in the pivotal home victory.
This was a fixture that swung sharply from quarter to quarter before settling on the finest of margins. Chicago made the brighter start and took the opening period 32-26, moving the ball crisply and getting 31 points on the night from Sydney Taylor. The Sky’s 28 assists underlined how well they shared possession, and for long stretches they looked the more fluid side in attack.
But New York responded with the kind of second-quarter control that changed the rhythm of the contest. The Liberty limited Chicago to just 14 points in the period while putting up 22 themselves, trimming the deficit and reasserting themselves before the break. From there, the match turned into a tense exchange, with neither team able to fully pull away.
Ionescu was central to everything good about New York’s offensive work, finishing with 29 points and the top performance rating on the night. Jonquel Jones added an important interior presence with 10 rebounds, while Pauline Astier’s five assists helped keep the Liberty organized in key stretches. New York did not shoot as efficiently as Chicago from the floor, ending at 40.8 percent compared with the Sky’s 47.9 percent, but the home side made up for that with accuracy from deep and elite work at the line.
That proved decisive. The Liberty knocked down 11 three-pointers at 39.3 percent and converted 26 of 28 free throws, an excellent 92.9 percent clip. In a match decided by a single point, those small margins became the whole story. Chicago, for all their quality in open play, could not quite match that late-game efficiency.
Key performers
New York Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu starred with 29 points, while Jonquel Jones collected 10 rebounds and Pauline Astier finished with five assists.
Chicago Sky: Sydney Taylor poured in 31 points to keep the visitors in contention throughout, and Natasha Cloud added eight assists as Chicago repeatedly found good attacking positions.
NerdSports Stat: New York won despite making five fewer field goals than Chicago, with the Liberty’s +7 edge from three-point range and +7 edge at the free-throw line combining to cover the final one-point margin exactly.
For the Liberty, the result lifts them to 15-12 overall and strengthens their position in the playoff picture, especially with an 8-5 home record now carrying added weight. For the Sky, who fall to 9-18, it is another narrow defeat in a difficult road campaign. New York will feel they found a way to take the points even without their sharpest shooting night, while Chicago are left to reflect on a fixture in which plenty went right but not quite enough at the finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
No goal scorers were listed for this Women’s National Basketball Association fixture. Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 29 points, while Sydney Taylor had 31 for Chicago.
New York Liberty 95 – 94 Chicago Sky.
New York improved to 15-12 and boosted their playoff push, while Chicago dropped to 9-18 and remain under pressure in the standings.
Sabrina Ionescu was the standout performer with 29 points in New York’s one-point victory.
